Visitors Counter

Manong Dong Gualberto welcomed the Philippine and the US Navy officers as they launch the ‘Sama-sama Maritime Training Activity at the People’s City of San Fernando. The week-long joint naval activity seeks to strengthen the partnership between the two countries and deliver maritime security in the region.

Photo by: Clifford Mercado

Photo by: Clifford Mercado

According to Chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel B. Salamat of AFP-North Luzon Command, “this training provides an exceptional opportunity for both Philippine and US Navies to engage in a broader range of maritime operations and unique scenarios in our maritime areas. In this way, we could explore for more cooperation, enhance our interoperability, and provide us effective mechanisms for collaboration and partnership of our Navies in the spirit of our mutual treaty engagement.”

In his speech, United States Rear Admiral Murray Joe Tynch II, Commander of the Logistics Group Western Pacific, Task Force 73 said that "the name of this Maritime Training Activity, Sama Sama, - meaning together, jointly - perfectly captures the spirit and energy of this remarkable event. The U.S. and Philippine alliance has always been a special relationship based on mutual trust and respect and strengthened by enduring maritime engagements.”

Photo by: Erwin Beleo

Photo by: Erwin Beleo

Sama-sama 2018 is the second iteration of the series to be conducted annually between the Philippine Navy and the United States Navy under the Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB).

Photo by: Erwin Beleo

The City of San Fernando houses a naval base which is strategically located near the West Philippine Sea.